Greenwich Free Press (https://greenwichfreepress.com/tag/tom-heagney/)
Several buildings on the north side of Railroad Ave (99, 95, 91, 89-87 and 85 Railroad Ave) include some restaurant uses that are grandfathered. 91 Railroad Ave, previously home to a cigar store, has operated as a retail use. A restaurant with 20 seats would typically require 9 parking spaces, including for staff. Continue Reading →
P&Z chair Margarita Alban noted a new state law that became effective in 2024 allows conversion of nursing homes to residential with a quick review, and suggested the applicant consider that route. Continue Reading →
After word of the proposal spread to public schools families in Greenwich, there was a strong response on social media. Continue Reading →
The P&Z commissioners again took issue with “moving non-conformities” from property to property. Neighbors said based on noise from mechanicals at the existing Berkley building at 475 Steamboat Rd, they were fearful about noise from the proposed office building. That said, the current noise does not violate the town noise ordinance. There was discussion about possibly revising the noise ordinance. Continue Reading →
Modifications include no commercial uses, except those pre-existing at 405 Greenwich Avenue. Also, below market condos must be sized at 90% of market rate condos. Continue Reading →
Attorney Heagney warned developers could bypass the town’s 6-110 regulation in favor of Connecticut’s state affordable housing statute 8-30g.
“If you are going to discourage developers from using 6-110 in this fashion, then generally the developments will become larger because there is no point of working within the local regulation when you have a state statute that deals with it differently,” Heagney said. Continue Reading →
P&Z commission chair Alban and attorney Tim Hollister disagreed on whether 8-30g can include retail.
Ms Alban said the history of the site was car dealership.
“You have not had retail, unless you consider a car dealership retail, which we don’t.”
“Car dealerships have a retail component. You can buy your antifreeze there,” Hollister said.
“The use isn’t classified by most towns as a retail use,” Alban said. Continue Reading →
Commissioner Nick Macri referred to a proposed “socioeconomic bifurcation” as “a return to days gone by.” Continue Reading →
Commissioner Dennis Yeskey shared concern about having two buildings – one with mostly the affordable units and one with mostly luxury condos. He said that posed an issue of equity for residents. Continue Reading →
The commission said they were unsure that existing legal non-conformities would carry over to a new development because while non-conformities travel with a property, when 9 properties are merged, the legal non-conformities might cease to exist. There were also concerns about the optics of developing affordable housing on a contaminated site. Continue Reading →